What is CBD Oil and How Can I Use It?

There’s been so much hoopla going on about CBD oil; in fact, this has only been eclipsed recently by the coronavirus pandemic currently happening across the entire globe and especially at home in the good old U.S. of A. When considering using any product, whether it be CBD oil, a food item, some vitamin or other type of supplement, etc., it is always a good idea to do your “due diligence.” In other words, do some research on what you are about to purchase and make sure it’s a bona fide product, and not something cheap or deceptively packaged to get you to buy their product, when it really isn’t what you should be using (for your health and more). For example, why might you need CBD oil in your makeup?!
Make Sure You’re Buying a High-Quality Product
If you want to take advantage of CBD oil and its numerous health advantages, there are some things you should do to check if it’s a good product. 

1. Check third party lab reports. A good, reputable company will always provide these. A good product has a very low level of THC (no more than 0.3%); check for impurities, too.
2. Check how the CBD oil was manufactured. The best method used is an extraction process that gives you the highest number of cannabinoids, which is supercritical CO2 extraction. Always check a company’s website; a reputable company will have this information available.
3. Check where the CBD oil was procured. Land that contains lots of heavy metals will yield a product containing heavy metals, something that is very unhealthy. The best way to know is to check the company’s website or even call the company. A product that is certified as organic will have gone through steps to ensure its purity, etc.
4. Check the company’s reputation online. It’s a good idea to check reviews from others who have purchased a product. Back in 2017, a cannabinoid researcher tested over 80 cannabinoid products. His results showed that 70% of extracts sold online were mislabeled. 

Myths about CBD Oil
It is always a good idea to check and see if your beliefs about CBD oil are in fact scientifically true. Separating fact from fiction is another important process in selecting a product that might actually give you strong and robust health benefits without harming you in the process! Here are a few myths:

1. CBD oil has never been scientifically proven to be effective in any health conditions. Oops – wrong! The most research has been conducted with CBD oil and its effect on seizure disorders.
2. Cannabis is a schedule 1 narcotic, so no research may be conducted on it. Well, that’s not entirely true, either. Columbia University examined CBD oil in treating glioblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor. The results of this study showed that cancer cells died, while healthy cells remained undamaged. The United Kingdom, Italy, and Brazil have also conducted research on various applications and got similarly positive results.
3. CBD oil can make me sleepy. Buzz – false! Actually, it makes you alert. It can counteract the effects of THC which is what actually can make you sleepy. 
4. CBD oil is the same whether it’s made from hemp, medical cannabis, or an isolate. Dr. Sulak, writing for Leafly.com, tells us that while a molecule of CBD oil is the same regardless of where or how it was extracted, it “clearly works best in the context of its phytochemical brothers and sisters from the plant cannabis, especially THC. When used together, CBD can enhance the therapeutic effects of THC while reducing the adverse effects. Even very low levels of THC, plus additional components of the cannabis plant, seem to enhance the benefits of CBD on pain and inflammation, at least in one … study.”
5. A small amount of CBD oil will always suffice for a therapeutic effect. No, that’s not really true, either. While a small amount can make you feel more alert and focused, larger amounts – several hundred milligrams in a dose or pharmaceutical-grade CBD oil – may be needed for relief for anxiety, depression, seizures, etc. 

As I usually remind people, work with a competent medical health care practitioner as you are likely to get better results with your health! If you take medications, remember also to check for possible contra-indications.
As always, have a happy, holistically healthy day! 
​Dr. P

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